Karen Magnuson, the longtime editor of the Democrat and Chronicle will be leaving that post in the new year.
The D&C announced on Thursday that Magnuson, who has been executive editor for 18 years, will step down January 2.
The paper says that Magnuson, 61, voluntarily accepted an early retirement package from Gannett Co. Inc., which operates the USA TODAY Network and owns the Rochester news operation. The newsroom’s digital leader, Scott Norris, will oversee the newsroom until a successor is named.
She will serve as an executive in residence at Rochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business as she weighs options for “rewiring” her career.
“I have had the pleasure of working with an amazing newsroom here in Rochester for 19 years. We’ve been through a lot together,” she said. “We have seen a lot of change together and we have achieved amazing things despite many of the challenges that we faced.
“I think it’s time, however, for me to pursue a second career and for other fine leaders in this company to pick up the baton and carry forward.”
Magunson came to Rochester as managing editor in September 1999 and was promoted to editor and vice president of news in January 2001.
She says that her role at RIT is still being developed, but will likely include mentoring students seeking degrees in management.
